Stands for reels of paper

ABSTRACT

A stand for reels having a hollow core is provided with a pair of spaced housings having disposed therein axially aligned shafts which are movable toward and away from each other for insertion and removal from the hollow core. Each of the shafts is provided with segmental jaws which are radially expandable to engage the inner surfaces of the hollow core of the reels. A spring biased plunger is provided to release the housing and segmental jaws from the shaft.

United States Patent Clarke Sept. 24, W74

[ STANDS FOR REELS OF PAPER 2,501,985 3/1950 Benjamin 242 721 x 2,759,680 8 1956 Johnson 242 682 [75] Inventorwln'am Frank Clarke Bnstol, 2,766,945 10/1956 Reich 242/1562 x England 2,884,299 4/1959 Sandrock 242/684 x 3,018,977 1 1962 Skallquist 242 684 x [73] Asslgnee' 322 ggggggizflg ggggg 3,096,101 7 1963 Raddeman 242/68.4 x l 1 3,157,405 11 1964 Hafemeister.... 242 682 x Eng an 3,432,112 3/1969 Hardy 242/682 2 FiledZ Sept 17 1971 3,507,455 4/l970 Andersson 242/72.l

[ APPL N04 181,524 Primary Examiner-John W. l-luckert Assistant ExaminerJohn M. Jillions [30] Foreign Application priority Data Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Craig & Antonelll Sept. 18, 1970 Great Britain 44593/70 [57] ABSTRACT 52 US. Cl 242/684, 242/682, 242/721 A Stand for reels having a hollow core is provided with 51 Int. Cl B65h 19/00 a pair of Spaced housings having disposed therein [58] Field 61 Search 242/682, 68.1, 68.7, 68.4, ally aligned Shafts which are movable toward and 242 5 2 72 279 2 away from each other for insertion and removal from the hollow core. Each of the shafts is provided with 5 References Cited segmental jaws which are radially expandable to en- UNITED STATES PATENTS gage the inner surfaces of the hollow core of the reels. 274 483 3/1883 G 242/684 A spring biased plunger is provided to release the arceau 1,411,292 4 1922 Mueller 242/682 housing and segmental Jaws from shaft 2,298,759 10 1942 Fouse 242/721 8 Claims, 5 Drawing Flgures STANDS FOR REELS or PAPER usually provided with a hollow core, and are supported on a pair of rotatable shafts provided with gripping means which are inserted into the ends of the core and then caused to grip the inside surface thereof. A brake is usually provided to act on the shafts so as to maintain a constant tension in the web as it is pulled from the reel.

The internal diameter of the hollow core may vary, so that when a new reel having a different core size is to be supported, the gripping means may need to be changed for a larger or smaller one. This can entail changing the shafts as well if the gripping means is an integral part of the shaft, which can be a timeconsuming operation.

According to the present invention there is provided a stand for reels of paper or the like, the reels having hollow cores, including a pair of rotatably mounted, axially aligned shafts in the mutually facing ends of which gripping means are releasably held, said shafts being mounted for axial movement towards one another for insertion of said gripping means into opposite ends of a reel core positioned therebetween in axial alignment with said shafts, said gripping means including a plurality of movable jaws each having a core engaging surface, the jaws being so shaped that for insertion into the ends of said core said surfaces may be arranged in a tapered formation, and operating means being provided to spread said jaws to bring said surfaces into a substantially cylindrical formation in gripping engagement with said core.

In a preferred form of the invention the jaws of each gripping means are in the form of segments which are loosely held in recesses formed in one end face of one of a pair of housings, the other ends of which are releasably connected to the said mutually facing ends of said shafts. For this purpose the segments are each provided with a rearwardly (considered in the direction of which the gripping means are inserted into the cores) extending projection, movement of which, and thus of each of the segments, is constrained by means of a plate fixed to the one end face of each of said housings in cooperation with said operating means.

The releasable connections between said housings and said shafts are preferably in the form of spring loaded plungers which when depressed allow the housings, including the plates and segments, to be removed axially from the shafts. Conversely different housings and plates, capable of freely holding segments of a different size may be pushed axially onto said shafts to enable a core having a smaller or larger diameter to be gripped.

A preferred form of apparatus embodying the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a reel stand embodying the present invention,

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of part of the left hand half of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 isa detail of FIG. 2 with some parts shown in different positions,

FIG. 4 is a section on the line IVIV of FIG. 3, and

FIG. 5 is a view in the direction of arrow V of FIG. 3.

In FIG. 1, a reel of paper 1, having a hollow core 2 is supported for rotation on a pair of gripping members 3, 3a, which are carried by brackets 4, 4a respectively and inserted into opposite ends of the core 2 and caused to grip the inside surface thereof, as will be described in detail later. The brackets 4, 4a are mounted on slides (not shown) so that members 3, 3a face each other in axial alignment, the brackets being capable of movement towards and away from each other, along the slides, by any suitable known means.

To insert the members 3, 3a into the ends of the core 2, the reel 1 is moved to a position halfway between the brackets 4, 4a with the core 2 approximately in axial alignment with the members 3, 3a. The brackets 4, 4a are then moved towards each other until the ends of the core 2 locate against shoulders 5, 5a which prevent further movement of the brackets.

Reference will now be made to FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5 which show details of the left hand part of FIG. 1, i.e., the gripping member 3, the manner in which it is carried, and its operating devices. It is to be understood that the right hand part of FIG. 1 is identical to that shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5 so will not be described any further.

The gripping member 3 consists of three segments 6 which are mounted, as will later be described, at the right hand end (as viewed in FIG. 2) of a hollow shaft 7 journalled in bearings 8, carried in the upper end of bracket 4, which is formed into two extensions 9, one bearing 8 being carried in each of the extensions 9. A rod 10 passes longitudinally through the centre of the hollow shaft 7 and is formed at its right hand end (as viewed in FIG. 2) into a nose portion 11 which is of a larger diameter than the rest of the rod 10 and of roughly frusto-conical form. The rod 10 is slidably supported within the shaft 7 by a bush 12 mounted in the right hand end thereof, the rod 10 extending from the nose portion 11 to the left beyond the left hand end of the shaft 7. The left hand end of rod 10-is journalled in a bearing 13 carried in a piston 14 which is movable within a cylinder 15 carried on the left hand (as viewed in FIG. 2) extension 9 of the bracket 4. Connections 16 are provided at each end of the cylinder 15 for the application of pressure air, so that at desired times the piston 14, rod 10, and thus the nose portion 11 may be moved in a direction towards or away from the segments 6.

The right hand end of the hollow shaft 7 (as viewed in FIG. 2) terminates in a cylindrical projection 17 coaxial with the bore of the shaft. A cylindrical housing 18 aligned with shaft 7 is provided at one end with a central cylindrical recess, which fits over the projection 17, and carries a spring loaded plunger disposed at right-angles to the shaft 7 and having stem 19 which has an enlarged lower end 20. A slot 21, of a width large enough to allow the stem 19, but not the end 20, to pass through, is formed in the outer cylindrical surface of the projection 17 and is enlarged, somewhat in the shape of a keyhole, to such a size that when the parts are in the position shown in FIG. 2 the housing 18 is prevented from being withdrawn axially from the end of the shaft 7, due to the end 20 being unable to pass through slot 21. To enable the housing 18 to be removed from the shaft 7 the plunger is depressed and the end 20 enters a further slot 22 which is dimensioned to allow the end 20 to pass through it, at the same time the stem 19 passes through the slot 21.

The other end of the housing 18 is provided with a central bore 23, which communicates with the recess in which the projection 17 is received as above explained. Formed in the other end of the housing 18 and radiating from the bore 23 are three shallow recesses 24 equispaced around the bore (see FIG. 4). A plate 25, provided with a central circular hole 26a, is fixed to the end face of housing 18 so as to partly cover the recesses 24. The plate 25 is so shaped that the shoulder is formed on that face of the plate facing away from the housing 18.

The segments 6 are each formed with a tail portion 26 and said tail portions are pushed into the recesses 24 when segments 6 of the correct size are fitted, before a reel is moved into position and gripped by the gripping means 3.

The segments 6 are so shaped (see FIGS. 2, 3 and 4) that they can be moved from a collapsed position (FIG. 2) in which their outer surfaces 27, which form part of a cylinder, are arranged in a tapered formation, to a position (FIG. 3) in which their outer surfaces 27 are arranged so that they form an interrupted cylinder, the interruptions appearing because of the necessary longitudinal taper in the segments to allow them to take up the position shown in FIG. 2. The outer surfaces 27 have longitudinal serrations to assist in gripping a core. To keep the segments in position relative to each other a garter, i.e., ring form, spring 28 is provided, which sits in a groove 29 formed in the segments. The segments 6 are also provided with partly conical internal surfaces 30 (see FIG. 2).

The arrangement is such that when the bracket 4 is moved, as explained previously, the segments 6 are in their collapsed formation and are being kept in position by the combined action of the nose portion 11 of the rod contacting the internal conical surfaces 30 of the segments 6, the spring 28, and the tail portions 26, of the segments 6, contacting the plate 25.

After movement of the bracket 4 has stopped, due to the shoulder 5 contacting the end of the core 2 pressure air is introduced into cylinder to the left hand (as viewed in FIG. 2) side of the piston 14, so that the piston, the rod 10, and nose portion lll will move to the right. The result of this is that the segments 6 will be spread apart, by reason of the conical nose l1 sliding along the internal surfaces 30 thereof, until the outer surfaces 27 of the segments 6 are forced into contact with the internal surface of the core 2, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. Due to the fact that the segments are only loosely held in the recesses 24, they are allowed to "float" and thus align themselves with the particular area of the core 2 that each surface 27 contacts.

When it is required to withdraw the gripping member 3 from the core 2, pressure air is admitted to the right hand side of piston 14, thus moving the nose portion 11 to the left which allows the segments to again take up their collapsed formation, the spring 28 helping with this operation.

When it is desired to change the segments 6, so that a core of a different internal diameter may be gripped, the piston 14 is moved to the left hand end of cylinder 15, thus causing the segments 6 to take up their collapsed formation, as shown in FIG. 2, and the spring 28 is removed from the groove 29. The segments 6 may then be removed by tilting them, in the same direction as if they were being spread out by the nose portion 11, as explained above, and the tail portion 26 of each segment will pass through the gap between the nose 11 and the internal surface of the hole 26a in the plate 25. A different-sized set of three segments necessarily however having tail portions of the same size as the tails 26 may now be fitted by reversing the actions for removing the segments 6.

After a reel has been gripped by both the gripping members 3, 3a in the manner described above in relation to gripping member 3, the reel 1 is rotated by reason of the paper web being pulled from it, and for efficient operation a constant tension has to be maintained in the web. For this purpose a brake is usually provided, and in the present invention a disc brake is shown in FIG. 2.

The brake consists of a pair of discs 31, 32 which are keyed at 33 to the shaft 7, between the extensions 9 of the bracket 4. The shaft 7, and thus the brake discs rotate, in the bearings 8 as the web is pulled from the reel 1, due to the frictional grip between the nose portion 11 and the conical surfaces 30, and also by reason of a key 34, carried by the housing 18 engaging in a slot formed in the end face of shaft 7 (see FIG. 2).

A pair of levers 35, are carried on a pivot shaft 37 which is journalled in bearing plates 39 carried on the bracket 4 and extending between the extensions 9. A second generally similar pair of levers 36 are carried by a second pivot shaft 38, similarly supported. (Only one of each pair of levers 35, 36 is visible in FIG. 2, the second lever of each pair lying behind the plane of the drawing). Further levers 35a, 36a are secured to shafts 37, 38 respectively, between the levers 35, 36. The ends of the levers 35a, 36a carry pads 40, 41 respectively of a suitable friction material, which pads are forced against the discs 31, 32 to give the required braking effect. Two air cylinders 42, one of which is mounted on the end of each lever 35, each having a piston rod 43 which is provided with a cap 44 which engages the end of the adjacent lever 36 when the piston rod 43 is moved to the right (as viewed in FIG. 2). This movement forces the pads 40, 41 against the discs 31, 32, against the action ofa spring 45 which connects the levers 35, 36. By positioning the cylinders 42 at differ ent places e.g. the positions marked A and B on FIG. 2, along the lever 35, the braking effect on the reel may be varied quite considerably. If only a light braking effort is required one of the cylinders 42 may be disconnected or removed, and/or the pad 41 may be moved away from the disc 32. To do the latter a threaded adjustable stop 46 is provided, carried by the lever 36, which can be unscrewed from the lever 36 to engage a stop 47 fixed to the bracket 4 and locked in this position by a lock-nut 48. Operation of the cylinders 42 will then only cause operation of the lever 35 and thus only the pad 40 wiill be operative in providing a braking effort to reel 1.

Various changes or modifications may be made in details of the stand described without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus for example the housing 18 may be removed and replaced by a housing of larger external dimensions, if it is desired to fit segments 6 designed to accommodate very large-diameter cores. Alternatively, the segments 6 need not have their tail portions 26 free in recesses 24 as shown, but may each be secured to the housing 18 by a pin-and-slot connection permitting required pivotal and radial freedom; with this arrangement, when it is desired to change the segments 6, they are removed with the associated housing 18 and replaced by another housing having similarly assembled to it segments of the required dimensions.

I claim:

1. A stand arrangement for reels provided with a hollow core comprising: a pair ofspaced brackets, a rotatably mounted shaft journalled in each of said brackets in axial alignment, first and second gripping means for gripping the hollow core at opposite ends, housing means on each shaft for releasably holding said first and second gripping means, respectively, on mutually facing ends of said shafts, means for axially moving each of said shafts toward and away from each other for insertion into and removal of said gripping means from opposite ends of the hollow core disposed therebetween, said gripping means including a plurality of movable segmental jaws each having a core engaging surface, said segmental jaws being freely held in a recess formed in each of said housing means and being arranged to provide an outer surface of substantially coaxial formation for insertion into the hollow core, operating means including axially movable means within said shaft for radially moving said segmental jaws into a substantially cylindrical formation into gripping engagement with the hollow core, means for releasably securing said housing means to its respective shaft and means for constraining the movement of said segmental jaws out of said housing means including a lateral projection on each of said jaws extending in a direction away from the hollow core and being disposed within a hollow formed in part by a fixed plate on said housing means which partially closes said recesses.

2. A stand arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said releasably securing means includes a spring loaded plunger, disposed in each of said hous ings to normally engage with the adjacent shaft, which, upon depression thereof, allow said housings, said fixed plates and said segmental jaws, to be removed as a unit axially from said shafts.

3. A stand arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said means for radially moving said segmental jaws includes a rod and a tapered collar portion at the end of said rod engageable with said segmental jaws.

4. A stand arrangement according to claim 3, wherein said means for radially moving said segmental jaws further includes means for axially moving each rod including a cylinder and piston, said piston being disposed on said rod at an end thereof opposite said tapered collar portion.

5. A stand arrangement as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a brake operatively connected to at least one of said shafts.

6. A stand arrangement as claimed in claim 5, wherein said brake is a disc brake including a pair of discs secured to said shaft, pivoted levers having secured thereto pads of friction material, means for urging said levers against said discs.

7. A stand arrangement according to claim 4 further including means for supplying air pressure to each side of said piston.

8. A stand arrangement according to claim 6, wherein said means for urging said levers includes a cylinder and piston, said piston being provided with a rod engageable with at least one of said levers. 

1. A stand arrangement for reels provided with a hollow core comprising: a pair of spaced brackets, a rotatably mounted shaft journalled in each of said brackets in axial alignment, first and second gripping means for gripping the hollow core at opposite ends, housing means on each shaft for releasably holding said first and second gripping means, respectively, on mutually facing ends of said shafts, means for axially moving each of said shafts toward and away from each other for insertion into and removal of said gripping means from opposite ends of the hollow core disposed therebetween, said gripping means including a plurality of movable segmental jaws each having a core engaging surface, said segmental jaws being freely held in a recess formed in each of said housing means and being arranged to provide an outer surface of substantially coaxial formation for insertion into the hollow core, operating means including axially movable means within said shaft for radially moving said segmental jaws into a substantially cylindrical formation into gripping engagement with the hollow core, means for releasably securing said housing means to its respective shaft and means for constraining the movement of said segmental jaws out of said housing means including a lateral projection on each of said jaws extending in a direction away from the hollow core and being disposed within a hollow formed in part by a fixed plate on said housing means which partially closes said recesses.
 2. A stand arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said releasably securing means includes a spring loaded plunger, disposed in each of said housings to normally engage with the adjacent shaft, which, upon depression thereof, allow said housings, said fixed plates and said segmental jaws, to be removed as a unit axially from said shafts.
 3. A stand arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said means for radially moving said segmental jaws includes a rod and a tapered collar portion at the end of said rod engageable with said segmental jaws.
 4. A stand arrangement according to claim 3, wherein said means for radially moving said segmental jaws further includes means for axially moving each rod including a cylinder and piston, said piston being disposed on said rod at an end thereof opposite said tapered collar portion.
 5. A stand arrangement as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a brake operativel connected to at least one of said shafts.
 6. A stand arrangement as claimed in claim 5, wherein said brake is a disc brake including a pair of discs secured to said shaft, pivoted levers having secured thereto pads of friction material, means for urging said levers against said discs.
 7. A stand arrangement according to claim 4 further including means for supplying air pressure to each side of said piston.
 8. A stand arrangement according to claim 6, wherein said means for urging said levers includes a cylinder and piston, said piston being provided with a rod engageable with at least one of said levers. 